This study investigated the potential effects of olestra, a fat replac
er, on soil physical properties following amendment in sewage sludge.
Liquid and solid forms of olestra, ranging the product formulation pro
perties, were added to anaerobically digested sludge at concentrations
of 5.7 and 4.4% by weight, respectively. Sludges, with and without th
e two olestra formulations, were dewatered to 45% solids by weight and
uniformly mixed with four distinctly different soils: Miamian silt lo
am (fine, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludalf), Kokomo silt loam (fine, mixe
d, mesic, Typic Argiaquoll), Hazleton sand (loamy-skeletal, mixed, mes
ic, Typic Dystrochrept), and Paulding clay (very fine, illitic, nonaci
d, mesic, Typic Haplaquept) at a rate of 25% by weight of sludge to so
il. The mixtures were incubated in a greenhouse and samples were taken
at 1, 6, 12, and 20 wk and analyzed for: bulk and particle densities;
water retention at 0, -5.9, -33, and -1500 kPa matric potentials; sat
urated hydraulic conductivity (K-s); water-stable aggregates; shrinkag
e; Atterberg limits; and pocket penetrometer resistance. Results showe
d that the presence of olestra in sewage sludge at concentrations as h
igh as 6% by weight should not exhibit any long-term effects on these
soil physical properties.